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Pinocchio Was Right: Lying Might Make Your Nose Grow, But It Can Also Mess With Your Brain!

Writer's picture: Trish GuiseTrish Guise

The other night, I was watching the show Brilliant Minds when one of the characters, Dr. Wolf, remarked that “Lying changes the brain.” Although I have always understood that lying is a natural human tendency, I wondered could it really change our brains over time?


Lying, Wood Pinocchio

Intrigued, by this I decided to investigate further and dive into the research. What I found was some fascinating insights into how lying works from an evolutionary and neurological perspective. 


Lying: A Social and Survival Strategy

When we consider human evolution, dishonesty makes a lot of sense. Whether evading predators or vying for resources, early humans were always struggling for existence. Lying—to hide danger or to get more food—was a potent weapon in that fight. But the function of dishonesty changed along with the complexity of human society. It became a means of negotiating social connections, hierarchies, and even status, rather than simply for survival. 


From an evolutionary perspective, individuals who were better at lying may have had a greater chance of finding mates, gathering resources, and avoiding conflict. It is almost as if dishonesty has become a learned social skill that allows people to manipulate environments and relationships.  


The Brain’s Response to Lying 

I discovered that the brain's reaction to lying is significantly more complex than I had thought. The research indicates that lying is not the simple act of stating an untruth; it triggers causes a complex series of events in our brain.


Neural Differences between the Truth and a Lie

Studies reveal that lying causes some areas of the brain to light up—specifically, the prefrontal cortex, which controls cognition and makes decisions. When we tell the truth, this area doesn't need a much mental energy as it does when we lie. The mental gymnastics of lying can be taxing, which might explain why lying feels so mentally draining.


Our emotions also have a significant role in dishonesty.  Lying—especially in high-stakes situations activates the amygdala, a section of the brain engaged in processing emotions and anxiety. Deceiving causes anxiety; the emotional centres of the brain are right there, on alert. 


Dopamine, the brain’s "feel-good" chemical, is released when a lie is successfully told. It’s no wonder that some people feel a rush after deceiving others—there’s a small reward attached to it. 


Cortisol, the stress hormone, also comes into play when we lie. When we are caught in a lie or the stakes are very high, cortisol begins to rise, thus adding to the stress of the situation. 


The Escalation of Lies: How Deceit Turns into a Slippery Slope 

Studies suggest that lying can become a slippery slope. Even when we tell ‘little white lies’ our brain’s emotional response—especially from the amygdala—start to fade with time. The more we lie, the less uncomfortable it becomes. As our discomfort with lying decreases, the magnitude of our lies increase. Our brains seem to become desensitized to the negative emotions of dishonesty, thus making it much easier to be deceitful.  


The Role of Motivation in Escalating Deceit 

It turns out that motivation plays a key role in whether lying escalates. When people lie for their own benefit, they’re more likely to keep pushing the envelope. The brain’s emotional response fades quicker, and as a result, the lies become grander. But when a lie is for the benefit of others, the magnitude of dishonesty remains fairly stable. This suggests that the motivations behind our lies matter—a lot. Lies told for self-serving reasons are more likely to spiral out of control.


Broad Implications 

These significance of these findings goes far beyond understanding why we lie more over time-it has implications for other behaviors. Should our brains become desensitized to the emotional discomfort of dishonesty become more tolerant of other risky or immoral behaviors. The brain adapts to repeated negative actions—whether it’s lying, violence, or risk-taking—by reducing the emotional aversion to them. That diminishing emotional response could influence a wide range of decisions we make, not just about honesty.


So, was Dr. Wolf, right? Can lying change our brains? Given the research I think the answer is yes. Lying isn’t just a simple matter of telling falsehoods; it’s a complex act that engages multiple brain regions and neurochemical systems.


What’s more, the more we lie, the more our brain becomes desensitized to the emotional consequences, leading to bigger lies and potentially more reckless behavior in other areas of life.


References

Garrett, N., Lazzaro, S. C., Ariely, D., & Sharot, T. (2016b). The brain adapts to dishonesty. Nature Neuroscience, 19(12), 1727–1732. https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.4426


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